Automatic hinge car-fender.



w.- R.-KlNG.

. AUTOMATIC HINGE CAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, I914.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- COLUMBIA PLANOOIIAPH COUWAIHINGTOH. D-C.

.,- 1=r;r r.oe e se; on Emmi-1, iirAssAcH-UsnrTsQ;

. UI MAI L- QE.beeerrari.

Application filed September 22, 1914. SeriaINo; 862,979.

. Tool; whom it may concern:

.Be it known. that! I, -\VI-rrrooMB R. =KI1IG, citizen of the United States, residingat lpswi'ch,'in the county oiJEsseX andt'State of? Massachusetts, have inventeda certain new-and useful Improvement in Automatic Hinge Gar-Fenders, of-which theifollowing is a. specification.

i This 111V6I1tl0Il relates to lmprovements in .fenden attachments for cars, Inore-part1cu larly to trolley. cars and likevehicles, and

use and adapted to be instantly depressed in operative positionby the action of the motorman orother operative when required." Another object of theinvention is to-provide. a device of this character which may be adapted,- without materialstructuraLchange,

toftrolley cars or'the' like vehicles without material structural changein' either the car I or the fender apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to pro.-

vide adevice of this character whichmay be locked in its'forward position to prevent" its displacement in event of its'comin'g {LII-Q011- tact with obstructions on the track.

"With these and otherobjects in view,"the

invention consists in certain novel features of'construction as hereinafter shown an'd described and then specifically pointed outin the claims and a in the drawings illustrativelof the preferred embodiment oftheinvention 1 Figure-.1 isla side elevation-partly in section-of the forward 1 portion of conventionaL trolley car with the-improvement: applied,=tthe latter beingv in section-longitudinally. 'Fig. 2 is a planviewwith the suspension devices in section on the line 2-2 (If-Big. 1. -Fig.*8 is a view in detailillustrating -portions of the construction.- Fig. :4

represents perspective views thei devicezin deta l.

Theii-mproved device comprisesstatlonary supports. suspendedbeneath theycar, a frame :slidable ill-13118 supports, and a fender: de-

-- here 10. w spaced apart a: distance I slightly as will be obvious. I iEachof themembers is'formed w-ith-a longitudinally directed channel indicated at between which the straps are bolted orotherwisesecured, while the rearward'straps 11 :are bolted OI'-'0th6IWiS6--S01l16l attheir lower: ends to the rear ends-of the mem bers 10. straps 11 thus project partiallyover the rear ends-.of Jthe channels 13 and tformstops of portions of .sps eifi t jflslktmi' is #Batelnted'Nov. 2,1915.

. vice' -mountedto swing upon .the sliding framerand adaptedto be "depressed intoop-' V'erativepositionwhen required. I

' Ihe stationary supportsE- -comp'rise =memv greater than the gage of the track andsuscar, and by forward straps11"from -the -lbase:worfioor :portion the latter 'bei-ng indiseated conventionally; at '12. The strap de- 'vices.;1l-l1 will be varied to correspond to the'frameand size of the car to which the .device is attached, and practically the only changerequired tm-adapt the device to a car-Will be to modify the-suspension devices,

13 in.:thei.r-confronting faces, the channels forming guides extending the full length of pended by rearward straps or like rigid .dei vices-ll from the base or 'fioor portion of the ,the' members and open at th'eir jforw-ard ends. .Thci forward'suspensionstraps 11 are-preferably 'united to the; mem'berslO by ears 14: V

The forward -edgesyof' the rear thereon, as hereinafter explained. 1

Sl'rdably disposed iii-the channels- 13 "or the membersr10, is a carrying 'frame--comprising side members 15- and a rear cofnnecting: member 16, the sides 15 engaging" in the channels 13, asshown. JThe members 15 are coupled-and suppo'rted by a plurality of transverse members-117 similar to the rear member 116, the'forward member-s17 being spacedarrelatively short "distance apart as shown. iThe side members 15 of the carrying frame QIG'fOI'mGdKWith forwaifdly opening; slots,-one ofr which is represented at 18, arrd'engaging by its ends in these slots; is a bar i 19, i the bar" thus extending; transversely of the. carrying frame in advance of 'the forward Inem-ber'17, e h r'beil PIOVi'ded with za squared portion 20, adj acent= to the inner face of the members 15. Engaging over '-'-'the -squared portions 20 by 'a square aperture, is #a holding- :device 21;, having a rod 22 projectingitherefrom: and; extending vslida-bly through apertures in: theacent grouped-.:-'members '-1 7 ABy this means, the

member 19 is maintained in position relative to the carrying frame and prevented from rotating thereon. Each of the slotted terminals of the members 15 are further secured by clamp bolts indicated at 23.

Directed upwardly from the forward end of each of the stationary members 10 is an car 24, and bearing against these ears 24 as steam or gas piping, and includes side members 30, a rear member 31, a forward member 32, and a plurality of transverse connectlng members 33. Any required number of members 33 may be employed, and it is not desired tolimit the device in this respect, but for the purpose of illustration four of the transverse connecting members 33 are shown. At their forward ends the sides 30 are curved upwardly as shown in Fig. l to increase their efliciencyand action.

Mounted for rotation upon the bar 19 are bearings 34, including a cap 35 whereby one of the members 33 of the frame of the fender is rigidly supported. By this means the fender frame is mounted for rotation through the action of the bearingsupon the bar 19. Preferably, the bearings 3435 will be coupled to one of the transverse members 33 rearwardly of the center of the fender frame as shown, but may be attached to any of the members 33 as preferred. By this means the fender frame is mounted to swing upon the bar .19 and may be disposed substantially in parallel relation to the slidable frame, or obliquely to the longitudinal plane of the track as represented in full in Fig. 1, with the forward curved portion of the fender frame operating in close proximity to the track. Mounted for rotation beneath the fender frame near its forward end is a shaft 36 carrying small bearing wheels 37 which project slightly below the lower line of the fender frame, and are thus in position to engage the road bed of the track and prevent the fender frame from coming in contact with the track when depressed. By this means the fender frame is prevented from injury when running over rough roads. 7

Stop chains 38 are coupled between the fender frame and the side members 15 of the slidable carrying frame, to limit the downward movement of the fender frame, and prevent undue depression thereof.

Extending between the side members 15 of the slidable carrying frame is a rod 39 having a hook device 40 swinging thereon and adapted to engage the member 31 of the fender frame, and thus maintain the fender frame substantially in parallel relation to the slidable carrying frame. By this means, the fender frame may be disposed in inoperative position, and held in that position by the hook. The hook 40 extends beyond the rod 39 in position to receive a snap hook or other suitable fastening devices 41 at the lower end of the pulling chain 42. By this means it will be obvious that anupward pull of the chain 42 or a rearward movement of the fender will release the member 31 and allow the forward end of the fender frame to drop until stopped by the tightening of the chains 30. The chains 38 will be of such length that the lower curved portion of the fender frame and the wheels 37 depending below the samewill not quite reach the ground under normal conditions, the object to be hereinafter explained.

Any suitable means may be employed for actuating the chain 42 from the motormans position in the car, but for the purpose of illustration, a tubular stand 43 is supported upon the floor of the car 12 and provided with a hand grip or handle 44 at its upper end which is connected with the chain 42, the chain being lead about a pulley 42 so that by simply pulling up on the handle 44, the latch device 40 will be instantly actuated to release the fender frame. Springs 45 surround the member 19 and engage the bearings 34 at one end, and their other ends are secured in the member 19 and exert their force to automatically move the fender frame into its lower position, and to hold the same yieldable.

A plurality of guard straps 46 are preferably attached to the members 31, 32 and 33 of the fender frame.

The rearward movement of the slidable carrying frame is limited, as before stated, by the portions of the rear suspension devices 11 which extend over the rear ends of the channels 13.

While the car is moving, under normal conditions, the fender frame will. be held in elevated position by the hook 40, and when the motorman observes an obstruction upon the track, a simple pull upward upon the handle 44 connected with the chain 43 will release the fender frame and permit the springs 45oto throw the latter downwardly to be checked by the stop chain 38. This movement will dispose the wheels 37 slightly above the track, as before described, but in event of the fender striking an object, the latter will be depressed and the wheels caused to contact with the track, thus preventing the object which is engaged by the fender frame from being carried beneath it. If the forms and sizes without material structural change and operates effectually pose described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is v 1. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to be suspended beneath a car body, a carrying frame slidably engaging said support and including a transverse bar, bearings carried by said transverse bar, a fenderframe including a rear transverse member and connected to said bearings, springs operating to yieldably 'maintain said fender frame in depressed position, a holding member mounted to swing relative to said carrying frame and engage the rear transverse member of the fender frame and hold the fender frame in elevated position against the resistance of said springs, and means under the control of the operator on the car for releasing said holding member.

2. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to be suspended beneath a car body, a frame slidably engaging said support and including side members having open slots and transverse'members spaced apart, a bar engaging by its ends in said slots and provided with squared portions, holding devices extending through the spaced transverse members of said frame and arranged slidably therein and having sockets to receive the squared portions of the bar, bearings mounted for rotation upon said bar, and a fender frame engaging said for the purbearings and thereby swingingly supported relative to the slidable frame.

3. A device of the class described comprising a support adapted to be suspended beneath a car body, a carrying frame slidably engaging said support, bearings extending from said carrymg frame, a fender frame including a transverse member rigidly engaging said bearings and rotative therewith relative to the carrying frame, a spring operating to move the fender frame into its lower. position, means operating against the resistance of said springto hold the fender frame against downward movement, and

means adapted to be operated by the motormanon the car for releasing said holding means.

at. Adevice of the class described comprising a support adapted to be suspendedbesaid slots and provided with squared portions, holding devices extending through the spaced transverse members of said frame and arranged slidable therein and having sockets to receive the squared portions of the bar,

bearings mounted for rotation upon said bar, 7

a fender frame engaging said bearings and thereby swingingly supported relative to the I slidable frame, and means for supporting saidfender frame in elevated position and releasable by the rearward movement of the fender frame.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence. of two I witnesses.

Witnesses:

GEORGE A. SoHoFmLD, AMELIA M. CLARK,

' Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 11. c.

wHITooMB R. KING. [Ls] 

